I have the honour of addressing your Excellency with a letter in Malay dated 12th January 1939 on the subject of the revival of the Dynasty of Riau and Lingga.

2. Presumably at your request, the Government of Johore, I gathered, forwarded a certified copy of my ancestral lineage to the Counsel-General for the Netherlands at Singapore, sometime in March 1939, and I hope that it has proved to your Excellency my eligibility as a candidate for this vacant throne under the Protection of the Netherlands Government.

3. Owing to the present precarious situation of the World, perhaps your Excellency will readily appreciate the great anxiety naturally entertained by me in this matter, and so kindly direct the course of its affairs accordingly for an early decision by the Netherlands Government, for which kind act I offer Your Excellency my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude.

1. I admit having sent a petition dated 12th January 1939 to H.E. the Governor General, Netherland India, in connection with the vacant throne of Riau Lingga. I am a descendant of the late Sultan Mohammad Madzam Shah who should be eligible to become Sultan in accordance with the genealogical table herewith. This claim is made in view of the Netherland India Government's proposal to revive the Sultanate of Riau Lingga.

2. Sultan Muhammad Muadzam Shah had three sons, viz.

(1) Tungku Mahmud

(2) Tungku Othman (Tungku Embong) my grandfather,

(3) Tungku Said

3. When Sultan Muhammad Muadzam died, he was succeded by his son Tungku Mahmud as Sultan Mahmud Mudzafar Shah. His only child was a daughter, Tungku Fatimah (Tungku Embong) and she married the tenth Yang diPertuan Muda Riau, Raja Mohammad Yusof Ahmad.

4. Sultan Mahmud Mudzafar Shah was dethroned by the Netherland Government in 1857 (A.H. 1274) and he was succeded by his uncle Tungku Sulaiman (Tungku Muda) as Sultan Sulaiman Badarulaam Shah. He had no issue.

5. When Sultan Sulaiman died in 1883 (A.H. 1300) Tungku Fatimah, daughter of Sultan Mahmud Mudzafar Shah, who had married the tenth Yang di-Pertuan Muda Riau, Raja Muhammad Yusof Ahmad (see para 3), became Regent. By his wisdom the Yang di-Pertuan Muda Riau, Raja Muhammad Yusof Ahmadi, was able to obtain the support of the Resident Riau in the selection of his son by Tungku Fatimah(T. Embong), Tungku Abdulrachman as Sultan Lingga Riau. He was known as Sultan Abdulrachman Muadzam Shah II.

6. The rightful selection should have fallen on one of the living descendants of Sultan Muhammad Muadzam Shah, viz. Tungku Mahmud and Tungku Hussain or on one of their sons who were Malays and not a descendant of Yang di-Pertuan Muda who was Bugis.

7. Sultan Abdulrahman was "dethroned" by the Netherland Government in 1911 (A.H. 1329). He died in Singapore in 1930 (A.H. 1349).

8. Since the abdication of Sultan Abdul Rahman Muadzam Shah II in 1911 the throne of riau Lingga has remained vacant.

9. Because I am one of the descendants of Sultan Muhammad Muadzam Shah, I sent in that application in para I hoping that it would be considered.

10. I am about 43 years old, passed standard IV in Malay and VII in English. My mother, Ungku Maimunah (Ungku Embi), is one of the children of the late Ungku Mohammad Khalid bin Temenggong Ibrahim.

11. I have been in the service of the Johore Government for about 20 years. At present I am attached to the Magistrate's Court as Clerk I.B. I hold a commission as Lieutenant in the Johore Volunteer Forces.

12. I have three brothers living who are all younger than I am namely, Tungku Abdul Jalil, Tungku Ali and Tungku Sulaiman. They are all in the service of the Johore Government.

13. I shall be obliged with your help and support to bring to the notice of the Netherland authority that I am truly descended from Sultant Muhammad Muadzam Shah.

(Sgd) Abdulrahman bin Mahmud

voor eensluidend afschrift:

De Gouvernements Secretaris,

True copy

(sgd) A. Aziz

7.3.39

BUGIS RIAU LEGACY IN PENYENGAT

In the 19th century, the island of Penyengat was the regional centre of Malay Islamic culture. Dutch and English intrigues during the late 18th and 19th centuries in the Riau Archipelago ultimately led to the demise of the Riau Lingga Sultanate. The last ruling Sultan, Abdul Rahman Muadzam Shah II, refusing Dutch overtures to take over administration of the kingdom led to his self-imposed exile in Singapore in 1911.

Before he went into exile with members of the Riau Royal Household, he ordered a scorched earth policy and laid waste to ruins his istanas and manors in Penyengat Island.

Despite these setbacks, the island still retained its relevance as a focal point for the Malay world. In spite of its limited area, Penyengat remains a very important site for the Malays in the region. Many other historical sites, such as the graves and mausoleum of notable aristocrats of the Malay royal houses can be found on this island. Famous examples including the graves of Raja Ali Haji and Engku Putri Raja Hamidah. Raja Ali Haji and his father Raja Haji Ahmad were the authors of Tuhfat-al-Nafis. Raja Ahmad (Engku Tua - b 1778 d- 1878) was also the Royal Advisor to three of his cousins during their tenures as Yang diPertuan Muda of the Keraja'an Kesultanan Riau Lingga.

Raja Hamidah who was married to Sultan Mahmud of Lingga was the bearer of the Royal Regalia. As part of her wedding dowry, Sultan Mahmud bequeathed upon her the island of Penyengat in 1804. Another source of attraction is the Masjid Raya Sultan Mosque built around 1844, and where numerous books of historical value are kept. The mosque and many of the graves looked well-maintained, shining with fresh coats of paint. Elsewhere, reconstruction work are still going on.

The legacy of the Riau Lingga Sultans and Yam Tuan Mudas - the Bugis Viceroys - still lives on in the memories of Riouwans.

[1930 - 1964] Tengku Muhammad Yusuf bin Tengku Haji 'Usman, Head of the Royal House of Lingga. b. at Singapore, 1898, eldest son of Tengku Haji 'Usman ibni al-Marhum Sultan 'Abdu'l-Rahman, by his first wife, Tengku Asmak binti Tengku Kelana Raja 'Ali, educ. Succeeded on the death of his grandfather as Head of the Royal House of Lingga, 28th December 1930. m. ca. 1926, Tengku Rahima binti Tengku Ismail [Tengku Dalam] (b. 1896; d. at Singapore, 27th October 1950), daughter of his uncle, Tengku Ismail ibni al-Marhum Sultan 'Abdu'l-Rahman, of Lingga. He d. at Singapore, 8th April 1964, having had issue, one son and three daughters:

1) Tengku Haji 'Abdu'l-Rahman bin Tengku Muhammad Yusuf, Head of the Royal House of Lingga - see below.

[1964] Tengku Haji 'Abdu'l-Rahman bin Tengku Muhammad Yusuf, Head of the Royal House of Lingga. b. at Singapore, 12th December 1932, only son of Tengku Muhammad Yusuf bin Tengku Haji 'Usman, Head of the Royal House of Lingga, by his wife, Tengku Rahima binti Tengku Ismail [Tengku Dalam], educ. Geylang Malay and English Schs., Singapore and Segamat, Malaya. Employed with Federal Motors 1952-1955, resided in Trengganu 1955-1957, joined 1st Singapore Inf. Regt. 1957, retd. as Staff Sergeant 1981. Succeeded on the death of his father as Head of the Royal House of Lingga, 8th April 1964. m. at Singapore, 27th July 1952, Inche' Puan Hajjah Maznah binti 'Ali (b. 1936), daughter of Inche' 'Ali. He has issue, four sons and three daughters: